John Joseph Dunn

John Joseph Dunn (September 1, 1870 – August 31, 1933) was an American prelate of the Catholic Church. He served as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of New York from 1921 until his death in 1933.

Biography

Early life John Dunn was born on September 1, 1870, in New York City to John and Mary (née Cassidy) Dunn. He received his early education at the parochial school of St. Gabriel's Parish in Manhattan. He then attended high school at St. Francis Xavier's College in Manhattan. Dunn then completed his theological studies at St. Joseph's Provincial Seminary in Troy, New York in 1896.

Priesthood

Dunn was ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of New York in Troy by Archbishop Michael Corrigan on May 30, 1896. After his 1896 ordination, the archdiocese assigned Dunn as a curate at St. John the Evangelist's Church in Manhattan. For 25 years, he wrote a column in the Catholic News, the archdiocesan newspaper, about these missions.

In the early 1900s, the City of New York started an investigation of Catholic Charities in the archdiocese that quickly devolved into a bitter dispute between them. It culminated in 1916 with investigators from the district attorney's office placing wiretaps on Dunn and other Catholic officials. He was ultimately charged with libel, obstruction of justice, and perjury based on information obtained through wiretaps. Dunn later testified before the Thompson Legislative Committee, tasked with the New York State Legislature with investigating the issue. The city eventually dropped all the charges against Dunn. During a dinner that same year, Hayes praised Dunn for his defense of the church during the 1916 investigation by the city.

In addition to his duties as director of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith, Dunn was named pastor of the Church of the Annunciation in Manhattan. He became treasurer of the archdiocese in 1922, and was named vice-president of Catholic Charities.

Death and legacy John Dunn died from a heart attack on August 31, 1933, at St. Vincent's Hospital in Manhattan at age 63. He is buried at the cemetery of the Sisters of St. Dominic in Newburgh.